diff --git a/bp2build/symlink_forest.go b/bp2build/symlink_forest.go
index 15a6335..7d48191 100644
--- a/bp2build/symlink_forest.go
+++ b/bp2build/symlink_forest.go
@@ -90,6 +90,20 @@
 	}
 }
 
+func isDir(path string, fi os.FileInfo) bool {
+	if (fi.Mode() & os.ModeSymlink) != os.ModeSymlink {
+		return fi.IsDir()
+	}
+
+	fi2, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Cannot stat '%s': %s\n", path, err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
+	return fi2.IsDir()
+}
+
 // Recursively plants a symlink forest at forestDir. The symlink tree will
 // contain every file in buildFilesDir and srcDir excluding the files in
 // exclude. Collects every directory encountered during the traversal of srcDir
@@ -145,8 +159,18 @@
 			continue
 		}
 
+		sDir := false
+		bDir := false
+		if sExists {
+			sDir = isDir(shared.JoinPath(topdir, srcChild), srcChildEntry)
+		}
+
+		if bExists {
+			bDir = isDir(shared.JoinPath(topdir, buildFilesChild), buildFilesChildEntry)
+		}
+
 		if !sExists {
-			if buildFilesChildEntry.IsDir() && excludeChild != nil {
+			if bDir && excludeChild != nil {
 				// Not in the source tree, but we have to exclude something from under
 				// this subtree, so descend
 				plantSymlinkForestRecursive(topdir, forestChild, buildFilesChild, srcChild, excludeChild, acc, okay)
@@ -155,7 +179,7 @@
 				symlinkIntoForest(topdir, forestChild, buildFilesChild)
 			}
 		} else if !bExists {
-			if srcChildEntry.IsDir() && excludeChild != nil {
+			if sDir && excludeChild != nil {
 				// Not in the build file tree, but we have to exclude something from
 				// under this subtree, so descend
 				plantSymlinkForestRecursive(topdir, forestChild, buildFilesChild, srcChild, excludeChild, acc, okay)
@@ -163,10 +187,10 @@
 				// Not in the build file tree, symlink source tree, carry on
 				symlinkIntoForest(topdir, forestChild, srcChild)
 			}
-		} else if srcChildEntry.IsDir() && buildFilesChildEntry.IsDir() {
+		} else if sDir && bDir {
 			// Both are directories. Descend.
 			plantSymlinkForestRecursive(topdir, forestChild, buildFilesChild, srcChild, excludeChild, acc, okay)
-		} else if !srcChildEntry.IsDir() && !buildFilesChildEntry.IsDir() {
+		} else if !sDir && !bDir {
 			// Neither is a directory. Prioritize BUILD files generated by bp2build
 			// over any BUILD file imported into external/.
 			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Both '%s' and '%s' exist, symlinking the former to '%s'\n",